clark



Oct. 29, 1929. o, ECLARK 1,733,402

ROCKS DRILL Filed NOV. 18, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet l O.E.CLARK Oct. 29, 1929..

ROCK DRILL attains:

0. E. CLARK Oct. 29, 1929.

BOOK DRILL Filed Nov. 18. 1927 7 sheets sheet gmmmm flu a KM O. E. CLARK ROCK DRILL Oct. 29, 1929.

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 18, 1927 Oct. 29, 1929.

O. E. CLARK ROCK DRILL Filed Nov. 18, 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT orricr.

OI'IIAR E. CLARK, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO GARDNER-DENVER COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF DELAW'ARE R CK DRILL Application filed November 18, 1927.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide novel means of an effective character for mechanically feeding a rock drill to its work. Under this general object may be mentioned the following important features thereof that are obtained with the present invention:

1. The automatic advance of the drill under its own direction and according to the speed with which the drilling operation takes place while maintaining the most desirable amount of play for the drill steel and its relation to the drilling hammer piston.

2. The employment of means whereby a rapid advance and withdrawal of the drill can be obtained.

A. structure by which the above and other objects are secured, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of such a drill.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation on an enlarged scale of the feeding motor and associated parts.

A Figure 3 is a side elevation with a partthereof in section and on substantially the line 23-43 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view with a portion thereof in section, on substantially the line 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on-the line 5.) of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the automatic controlling valve and associated distributing passageways.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the feeding motor and associated distributing passageways taken on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Figures 8, 9 and are sectional views respectively on the lines 88, 99 and 1010 of Figure 5, showing the main controlling valve in position to cause the feeding motor to withdraw the drilling motor.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are on similar lines, but showing the valve in its neutral or closed position.

l igures la, 15 and 16 are similar views but Serial No. 234,198.

showing the valve in position to secure the automatic feed of the drilling motor.

Figures 17, 18 and 19 are corresponding sectional views, but illustrating the valve in position to cause a rapid advance of the drilling motor.

Figure 20 is a diagrammatic view of the feed motor, main controlling valve and automatic valve with the distributing passageways, and showing the relation of the parts when the feeding motor is freely advancing the drill.

Figure 21 is a similar view, but showing the advance of the drill under the control of the automatic valve.

Figure 22 is also a diagrammatic view with the parts shown in position to cause the feeding motor to freely withdraw the drill.

Figure 23 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the piston hammer actuated valve.

Figure 24-: is a detail cross sectional view thercthrough.

In the structure disclosed, the drill is of the mounted type, and the usual or any desired form of shell is shown at 25. On this shell is slidably mounted a drilling mechanism, designated generally by the reference numeral 26. The drilling mechanism comprises a cylinder member 2'7, having a housing 28 at its front end. In this housing is a tool holder or chuck 29 adapted to receive the rear end of a drill steel 30. A hammer piston 31, operating in the cylinder member 27, has a reduced hammer extension 32 adapted to deliver hammer blows against the drill steel 30. The structure is of a type well-known, and is ordinarily operated by air under pressure, air being delivered alternately in a manner well understood to opposite sides of the piston 31 to reciprocate it, and on its forward stroke delivering the blow to the steel 80.

In rear of the guide shell there is located a support 33 connected to the guide shell by suitable rods 34. This support includes a gear case 35, on the upper portion of which is located a feeding motor, designated generally 36. The motor includes cylind r member 37, in which are located intermeslr ing gear pistons 38. This motor 36, it will be noted, is located longitudinally of he general structure, and attached to one of the pistons 38, is a worm shaft 39 that is thus disposed transversely to the support and general structure. The shaft 39 is provided with a Worm 10 in mesh with a worm wheel ll (see Fig. 5), and this worm wheel is fast to a feed screw 12 journaled in the support and having a threaded engagement with a teed nut 13 secured as usual to the under side of the drill 26.

The drilling motor 36 is reversible, that is, it may be operated in either of opposite directions, and it will be obvious that when turning in one direction, the cod screw will be rotated to advance the drill, and when operated in the opposite direction, it will withdraw the drill.

On the front face of the feeding motor 36 is a main controlling valve casing a l, haw ing a tapered valve chamber 1-5 and a motive fluid supply chamber -16 along the outer side of the valve chamber 15 (see The supply chamber 16 is in co!nmunication with a supply nipple l7 (see Figures 1 and 6), to which a supply line or hose is connected. By referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that supply ports 18 and lead from the supply chamber 16, to one side ot the valve chamber 415, and that leading from diametrically opposite sides of the valve chamber, are distributing passageways and 51, which as shown in Figure 7, open into the cylinder member 37 of the feeding motor 236 through ports 52 and 53 on opposite sides of the pistons 3t. As indicated in Figure 3; exhaust ports and open from the valve chamber 15 between the ports 41-8 and 50 and the ports 49 and 51. In the valve chamber 15 is a rotary tapered main controlling valve 56.

Now it Figure 5 be considered in connection with Figures 819 and Figures 20 22, it will be noted that this valve 56 is pro vided in one end portion with a transverse passageway 57, and in its other end with a transverse passageway The pass geway 57 also has ports 59 and 60 at subs iially right angles to each other, and at acute angles to the passageway 57. The passageway 58 has ports 61 and 62 located at acne angles to the passageway 56, and there is a thirt port 62? disposed at right angles to the passsageway 58.

The various ports and passages are so related to each other and to the ports 46 and 49 and the passageways 5051 that when the valve is in the position shown in Figures 5, 11, 12 and 13, the supply chamber 16 is cut oil from the passageways 56 and 51. The feeding motor is therefore idle. It now the valve is turned to the position shown in Figures 17, 18, 19 and 29, it will. be noted as shown in Figures 17 and 20, that actuating fluid can pass from the supoly chamber t6 through the port 48, passageway 57, passage- If it is desired to reverse the feeding motor and withdraw the drill, the valve 1s shifted to the position shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 22. This brings the supply port 49 of the chamber 16 into communication with the passageway 58, and said passa eway is open to the passageway 51, so that now passageway 51 becomes the supply passageway through the port 53 to the opposite side of the pistons 38, and a reverse operation of the motor and consequently 01 the screw is obtained. Referring to Figures 8 and 22, it will be noted that the passageway 50 now becomes the exhaust and directs such exhaust through the ports 59 and 60 of the valve 56 to the exhaust port 55.

The means thus far described is obviously controlled directly by the operator, the valve 56 being provided with a suitable actuating handle 64 for the purpose.

But mechanism is provided when the drill has been run up to its work, to automatically teed the drill according to the speed with which the drilling action takes place. It has been found that there is an optimum relation between the drill steel and its seat against the chuck bushing. That is to say, it must always have some play, and if the drill is cranked up sufliciently tight to prevent this play, or it the feeding allowed to fall behind the cutting speed whereby this distance is increased appreciably so as to allow greater play, the drilling speed drops off very rapidly.

Means are provided in the present mechanism to automatically maintain this correct striking point, regardless of rock conditions or other variables, and the following mechanism is employed for the purpose. Located at one side oi? the supply chamber 46 and main controlling valve 56, and as shown in Figures 1 and 3, there is an automatic controlling valve located in a chamber 65. This valve, designated 66, has a reduced central portion providing an annular groove 67. A distributing passageway 68 leads from the supply chamber 46 and opens into an annular groove 69 formed in the chamber 65. Another annular groove 70, located alongside the groove 69, is in communication with a passageway 71 that opens into the central portion of the main controlling valve chamber 15. The main controlling valve 56 has a passageway 72 that opens through its central portion (see Figs. 9, 12, 15 and 18), and this passageway 72 also opens into the passageway 57 at one end of the valve. The valve therefore can be turned to a position to bring the passageway 72 into communication with the passageway 71 and when so positioned, as illustrated in Figures i l, and 16, the passageway 72 is in communication with the supply passageway leading to the advance side of the feeding motor (see Figure 21). The exhaust takes place through the passageway 51, central. port 63, passageway 58, and exhaust port 5%. The movement of motive fluid is, however obviously controlled by the automatic valve 66, for when said valve is in the position shown in Figure 3, the grooves 69?0 are cut off from communication and the valve 68 is normally held in this position by reason ot having a small plunger 73 operating in a plunger chamber 74 that is in communication with the motive fluid supply chamber dill {see i 'ur-es 3, 2t), 21 and The mo *ement oi the automatic valve 66 to supply iiuid to the feeding motor is obtaineo as follows: Refs: ing to Figure 1, it will be noted tiat a flexible hose or conduit 74 is provided leading from the front end of the cylinder member 27' to the front end of the valve The conduit 74! leads from a chamber 7 formed in the head of the cylinder member, and this chamber shown in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 23, has communication with the front end of the piston .bor 31 through a port '56. The port s normally closed by a plunger valve F? tln i is urged to its seat by a spring 78 placed in th chamber '1' 5 and bearing against said valve. The valve has a stem 79 formed to permit the cha passage of motive iluid around it and projecting rearwardly into the path of the hammer piston 31. There is provided at some desirable point in the conduit 74 a small leak port 80.

VJ hen the main controlling valve 56 1s moved to the position shown in Figures 14,

15, 16 and 21, and as long as the drilling:

mounted therein, of a rotatable feed screw to the oril steel 30, ti hammerlng action motor is in its proper relation with respect of the hammer piston 81 and its extension 32 on the drill steel 30 will occur beIore the piston 31 can strike the valve stem 7 9. The

the front end of the automatic control valve 66, forcing it rearwardly, and thus bringing the grooves 69 and 70 into con'nnunication. As soon as this takes place, motive fluid will flow to the feeding motor and cause its operation thereby to advance the drill until the hammer iston 31 no longer strikes the valve stem 79, whereupon said valve 77 will remain closed and pressure in the conduit 74* will be reduced by the escape of the fluid therein through the port 80. As a result the automatic valve 66 will be returned to its normal position, cutting off the supply of motive fluid to the feeding motor, which comes to a standstill. The action of course is repeated as often as the feed takes place.

lVith this structure therefore, when the drill is set up, the operator moves the main controlling valve 56 from its neutral position, as shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13 to its advance position as illustrated in Figures 17, 18, 19 and 20. The feeding motor is there fore thrown into operation and moves the machine forward to drilling position. When this position has been obtained the operator turns the main COIltrOlliHg valve to its automatic feeding position as illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 21, whereupon the above described automatic feed will take place.

lVhenever it is desired to withdraw the drill the operator has only to move the main controlling valve 56 to the position shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 22. This cuts off the automatic feed and causes a continuous reversal operation of the feeding motor, thereby rotating the screw in a direction to withdraw the drill.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

hat I claim, is:

1. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a guide shell and a drill slidably having a threaded engagement with the drill, a support at the rear end of the guide shell, in which the screw is journaled, a worm gear fixed to the rear end of the screw, a reversible rotary motor mounted on the support, a w rm driven by the motor and operatively engaged with the Worm gear, a valve chamber, a motive fluid supply passage communicating therewith, separate distributing passages leading from the valve chamber to opposite portions of the motor, and a valve in the chamber for directing motive fluid from the supply passage to either distributing passage to eli'ect the rotation of the motor in ither of opposite directions.

2. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a movable piston, of mechanism for causing the advance feeding movements of the drill including an actuating motor, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor to operate 1t, and mechanism controlled by the advancmg stroke of the drill piston due to progress of drilling operations for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motor.

In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a movable piston, of a feeding motor, means moved by the motor and connected to the drill for advancing it, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor to actuate it, a valve controlling the motive fluid supply, and means controlled by the advancing stroke of the drill piston due to progress of drilling operations for automatically operating the valve.

4. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill, of a feeding motor, a feed screw operated by the motor and engaged with the drill, and mechanism operated by a portion of the drill and dependent on the advance of the drilling operations for automatically controlling the operation of the motor.

5. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill, of a feeding motor, a feed screw operated by the motor and engaged with the drill, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a valve controlling the motive fluid supply, and mechanism operated by a portion of the drill and dependent on the advance of the drilling operations for automatically controlling the operation of the motor.

6. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a drilling piston, of mechanism for causing the feeding movement of the drill, including an actuating motor, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, and mechanism automatically controlled by the drilling piston and dependent on the advance stroke thereof due to the progress of drilling operations for controlling the supply of motive fluid to the motor.

7. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a drilling piston, of mechanism for causing the feeding movement of the drill, including an actuating motor, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a controlling valve for the motive fluid, and mechanism for actuating the valve including a controlling device that is located in the path of and operated by the piston.

8. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a drilling piston, of a screw for feeding the drill, a

, -motor for actuating the screw, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a controlling valve for the motive fluid, mechanism for actuating the valve, and a device for controlling the operation of said actuating mechanism, said device being located in the path of and operated by the piston.

9. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a drilling piston, of mechanism for causing the feeding movement of the drill, including an actuating motor, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a fluid actuated valve for controlling the motive fluid supply, and means automatically controlled by the drilling piston for supplying fluid to the valve to actuate it.

10. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a movable drill having a drilling piston, of a screw for feeding the drill, a motor for actuating the screw, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a fluid actuated valve for controlling the motive fluid supply, and means engaged and operated by the drilling piston for controlling the supply of fluid to the valve to actuate it.

11. In feed mechanism for drills, the. combinationwith a guide shell and a drill slidably mounted thereon, and having a piston of a support at the rear end of the shell, a feed motor mounted on the support, a screw operated by the motor and engaged with the drill, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a valve controlling said supply, and means controlled by the advance of the drill piston due to drilling progress for automatically operating the valve.

12. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a guide shell and a drill slidably mounted thereon, and including a hammer piston and a holder for a drill steel to be hammered by the piston, of a support at the rear end of the shell, a feed motor mounted on the support, a screw operated by the motor and engaged with the drill, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a pneumatic valve controlling said supply, a conduit from the drill to the valve, and a valve adapted to be operated by the piston for controlling the conduit.

13. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a guide shell and a drill slidably mounted thereon and including a cylinder member, a hammer piston in the cylinder member, means for supplying actuating fluid to the front and rear ends of the cylinder member to actuate the hammer piston, and a holder for a drill steel to be hammered by the piston, of a support at the rear end of the shell, a feed motor mounted on the support, a screw geared to the motor and having threaded engagement with the drill, means for supplying motive fluid to the motor, a pneumatic valve controlling said supply, a conduit from the front end of the cylinder member in advance of the piston and extending to the valve, and a valve for the conduit located in the cylinder member and adapted to be struck by the hammer piston.

14:. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a drilling motor having a piston, of a feeding motor therefor, means automatically controlled by the advance of the drilling motor piston due to drilling progress for supplying motive fluid to the feeding motor for operating it, and manually controlled means for supplying motive fluid to the feeding motor to cause its operation independently of the automatic control by the drilling motor.

15. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a drilling motor having a piston, of a reversibly operable feeding niotor therefor, means automatically controlled by the advance of the drilling motor piston due to drilling progress for supplying motive fluid to the feeding motor for operating it to advance the drilling motor, and manually controlled means for supplying motive fluid to the feeding motor to cause its operation in either of opposite directions to advance or withdraw the drilling motor.

16. In feed mechanism for drills, Jhe combination with a drilling motor and a feeding motor therefor, said drilling motor having a member that advances with the progress or the drilling of an automatic fluid controlling valve, means f r delivering motive fluid directly to the feeding motor, means for delivering motive fluid to the feedingmotor by way of and under the control of the automatic valve, and means actuated by the advance of said drilling motor member for operating the valve.

17. lln feed mechanism for drills, the com bination with a drilling motor and a feeding motor therefor, of an automatic fluid controlling valve, means for delivering motive fluid directly to the feeding motor, means for delivering motive fluid to the feeding motor by way of and under the control of the automatic valve, and a main controlling valve for directing motive fluid to either the direct delivering means or to the automatic controlling valve.

18. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a lrilling motor and a reversible fe mot r therefor, of an automatic fluid controlling valve, means for delivering motive fluid directly to the feeding motor to operate it in either of opposite directions, means for delivering motive fluid to the feeding motor by way of and under the control of the automatic valve, and means actuated by a part of the drilling motor for operating the valve.

19. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a drillin motor and a feeding motor therefor, OI an automatic fluid controlling valve, means for delivering mo tive fluid directly to the feeding motor, means for delivering motive fluid to the feeding motor by way of and under the control of the automatic valve, and a main controlling valve for directing motive fluid to the direct delivering means to drive the motor in either direction, or to the automatic controlling valve.

20. In feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a drilling motor including a movable member, of a feeding motor therefor, a main controlling valve casing, means for supplying motive fluid thereto, a motive fluid distributing passageway leading from the valve casing to the feeding motor, an automatic fluid controlling valve, a motive fluid distributing passageway leading from the valve casing via the automatic valve to the feeding motor, a main controlling valve in the casing having means for directing the motive fluid to either distributing passageway, and means operated by the movable member of the drilling motor for operating the automatic controlling valve.

21. in feed mechanism for drills, the combination with a drilling motor, of a feeding motor therefor, a main controlling valve casing, means for supplying motive fluid thereto, two motive fluid distributing passageways leading from the valve casing to the feeding motor to supply fluid thereto and move it in opposite directions, an automatic fluid crmtrolling valve, a motive fluid distributing passageway leading from the valve casing via the automatic valve to the feeding motor, a main controlling valve in the casing having means for directing the motive fluid to rny ;.he three distributing passageways, and means operated by the drilling motor for operatl the automatic controlling valve.

Illfcd mechanism for drills, the combination 'ith a drilling motor comprising a cylinder member, a holder for a drill steel, and a hammer piston for delivering hammer blows to the drill steel, of a reversible rotary feeding motor, a feed screw operated thereby and engaged with the drilling motor, a main valve casing, a motive fluid supply passageway thereto, distributing passageways leading from the valve casing to opposite portions of the motor, an automatic fluid controlling valve, a distributing passageway leading from the valve casing to the feeding motor by way of and controlled by the automatic valve, exhaust means opening from the valve casing, a main valve in the casing operable to direct motive fluid to any of the said distributing passageways and cause others to communicate with the exhaust means, and mechanism operated by the hammer piston to actuate the automatic valve.

28. In feed i'nechanism for d ills, the combination with a drilling motor comprising a cylinder member, a holder for a drill steel, and a hammer piston for delivering hammer blows to the drill steel, of a. reversible rotary ceding motor, feed screw operated thereby and engaged with the drilling motor, a main valve casing, a motive fluid supply passageway thereto, distributing passageways leading from the valve casing to opposite portions of the motor, an automatic fluid controlling valve, a distributing passageway leading from the valve casing to the feeding inci by way of and controlled by the auto n'iatie valve, exhaust means opening from the vaive easing, a main valve in the casing operable to direct n'iotive fluid to any of the said distributing passageways and cause others to communicate with the exhaust means, a conduit leading from the drilling motor to the automatic valve for supplying fluid to the latter to operate it, and a controlling valve in said conduit adapted to be engaged and operated by the hammer piston When its forward stroke becomes excessive.

In testimony whereof, I my signature.

OMAR E. CLARK. 

